Sponge



Feb. 25, 1930. 3, w, BLAIR 1,748,406

'SPONGE Filed April 26, 1929 I R A? in Patented Feb. 1931).

UNITED STATES GEORGE W. BLAIR, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS sronen Application filed April 26,

lather readily Wipes ofi when the sponge is applied to the body. Hence a further object of the present invention is the provision of a means for constant supplying of the soap lather to the sponge.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a sponge provided with an inside space and means for inserting cake of soap therewithin.

With the above general objects in view and others that will appear as the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying 2 drawing and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing forming a part of this application, and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the sponge constituting the present invention;

. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the sponge illustrating partial insertion of soap cake therewithin;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view through the sponge, the view having been taken on line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a modified form of the sponge.

Referring to the drawing in detail there is shown a sponge 10 formed into a'rectangular block, and having six rectangular walls. Said sponge blockhas an inside pocket 11 for receiving therewithin a cake of soap 12. One wall of said sponge block has a semicircular or crescent incision 13Jwhich communicates with said pocket 11. Said incision effects a semi-annular flap 14 which may be manually raised to assume an angular po- 1929. Serial No. 358,183.

sition in respect to the wall of which it is a part, and illustrated on Fig. 2 and also shown by dotted lines on Fig. 3. By raising said flap 14 to said position an opening will be created communicating with said pocket 11 and through which opening a cake of soap 12 may be inserted and forced into said pocket 11. As rubber is'of a flexible'nature said flap 14- by virtue thereof will always tend to assume. its normal closed position shown on Fig. 1. Thuswhen the soap is within the sponge, the latter will present a uniform appearance and flap 14 will hardly be noticeable.

Furthermore, the'flap 14 is formed in the top or bottom of the sponge, that is, in its side or surface. having the greatest extent, as distinguished from one edge or end, and it extends but part way the length of the cavity or pocket 11, so that in efiect at least a half of the cake of soap 12 is contained'in the rear end of the pocket, the wall of which is not cut. Accordingly the soap cake is less likely to become displaced through the opening formed by the flap, and since the flap is crescent shaped any cake of soap approa'ching the rectangular as shown in Figure 2 will engage at its forward corners beneath the corner walls ofthe cavity not affected by the incision thereby to positively 0 retain the soap cake against displacement should the flap by any circumstance become slightly opened out.

Due to the porous nature of the sponge the lather created by the soap inside of pocket 11 35 will gradually penetrate the walls of the sponge and thus a constant lather in the sponge will be had without necessity of frequent application of the soap to the sponge.

On Fig. 4 another form of the sponge is 0 illustrated. There'the sponge is formed in two halves 10, each being hollowed to form pocket 11' when the two halves of the sponge meet at their edges 15. The meeting edges 15 may be vulcanized together to form a rectangular sponge block similar to that shown on other figures, 'Of course, in that modified form of the sponge there is a similar incision 13 and the resulting flap 14' for inserting soap cake 12 into the pocket 11.

-From the hereinabove description it will T be apparentthat I provide an efficient device without employing any metal or any locking means to hold the cake of soap in position as all parts of the article are homogeneously made of sponge rubber.

It is to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the particular material from which the article may be made. I specify porous rubber sponge, because my invention has' most particular application thereto and the greatest degree of utility therewith. I While there is described herein a preferred embodiment of the present invention it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claime d.- What I claim as new is: A soap retaining rubber spon e formed with a' center cavity having a poc et forretaining a cake of soap so that it will be coinpletely enclosed within the body of the sponge, and one of the surfaces of the sponge having a crescent shaped incision extending to the cavity and adjacent one end thereof and providing a self-closing flap to be lifted to insert a cake of soap, the extent of the incision being less than any diameter of the cavity. a

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

- GEORGE W. BLAIR. 

